Journal of Economic Info Vol 6 No 1; 43-48 Journal of Economic Info (JEI) ISSN:2313-3376 www.readersinsight.net/jei The Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary: Toward Democratic Governance in Nigeria Since 1914 Mustapha Alhaji Ali*1, Yakaka Abubakar2, Halima Ali3 1,2,3Department of Political Science and Administration. Yobe State University, Damaturu. Nigeria. * Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract ARTICLE INFORMATION The paper examined governance in Nigeria since 1914, and look at how the executive, legislatures, and the Received: 10 Dec 2018 judiciary operate in the country, indeed, the three arms of government are believing to operate as a watchdog Revised: 10 Jan 2019 to each other. This study is qualitative, the researcher obtained all the relevant and related data from the Accepted: 31 Jan 2019 documented material, the research designed for this paper is a case study approach, it also helps in providing an in-depth understanding of a case where the researcher digs deeply into a phenomenon in obtaining the DOI: 10.31580/jei.v6i1.467 related literature. To support the paper the researcher adopted pluralism theory to explain the write-up. The postulation of the theory is to examine political actions in modern democratic states. The study found that the northern and the southern region were amalgamated by the British administration for their personal and economic gain, without considering the complex nature heterogeneity nature of the nation. This has created several problems across the nation. Therefore, the study recommended that for peaceful democratic governance all the three arms of government shall have autonomous power to discharge their constitutional responsibilities. No, any arm shall exercise the powers of the other. Again, for Nigeria to live in peace and harmony, and to attain national and economic development there is a need to accept the principle of unity of purpose. Keywords: Executive; Governance; Judiciary; Legislature; Nigeria © Readers Insight Publication INTRODUCTION behavior of the people. Thus, he noted that the legislatures occupies a strong position in the decision making and as well as Nigeria with a projected population of 196,651,048 and one of the lawmaking in the state, but yet some of them are involved in largest nation in Africa blessed with human and material resources, is corrupt practices or supporting the corrupt minded individuals as by far the most populated nation in Africa (Ali, Zakuan, and Ahmad, an incentive to approve and pass appropriation bills or in awarding 2018 & UNDESA, 2018). Nigeria has three tiers of government of contract for private interest (Ige, 2015; Otusanya, 2010; Oyewo, structure these includes local, state, and the federal government. It also 2007). has 774 local government, thirty-six states, and federal capital territory (Ahmed & Shehu, 2014). PROBLEM STATEMENT The history of the Nigerian legislature’s dates to the Lagos legislative council of 1862, established under the British colonial Considering the heterogeneity nature of the country that is made up administration. Nigeria was created by the colonial masters like most of people of different religion, culture, tribes, and education African nations, most African states have passed through this background. Yet, the British colonial masters deliberately experience of the colonial rule (Goitom, 2017). amalgamated the northern and southern protectorates. The northern and The belief is that good governance and democracy are not basically the protectorates were amalgamed in 1914 by the British colonial required but essential conditions for national development. Taken administration for their selfless, personal, and economic gain or together, “democracy good governance” refers commonly to a political benefit, the annexation of these two different protectorates has created government based on the classical of a liberal-democratic institution, a huge gap that needs to be filled. Peoples are encountering several which was established to protects human and civil rights, joint with a problems in the nation as a result of the merger. The three arms of knowledgeable, non-corrupt and answerable public government government are elected to discharge their constitutional duties, and to (Leftwich, 1993). act as watched dogs to each other, with this they can represent, present Constitutionally, the legislatures are to offers a check and the needs, yearning, as well as protect the right and interest of the balance to the executives. The legislatures work as a watchdog on general populace. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case in the Nigerian the public finance as part of its mistaken roles over the executive context, where the arms of government are presenting and protecting in the managing of the capital and resources of the state to their personal interest by encouraging or involving themselves in the guarantee decent governance and accountability (Babawale, 2006; corrupt act, and by extension dominated the minority ethnic groups in Ige, 2015 & Oyewo, 2007). Similarly, Lafenwa, (2009) observed the various geo-political zones of the nation. This has created a big that the legislatures are the machine of elected governance, as laws vacuum that needs to be filled (Ige, 2015; Otusanya, 2010; Oyewo, made by it set the agenda for the government and regulate the 2007). Given this, the paper examined the relationship between the 43 Journal of Economic Info Vol 6 No 1; 43-48 three arms of government (Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary) Theoretical Framework and how they operate in the country, Since 1914. There are many theories that can explain the topic under Purpose of the Study investigation, but for the purpose of this paper, the researcher adopted Pluralism theory support the argument on the amalgamation of the 1. Examined why the northern and southern protectorate was northern and southern protectorates and how the three arms of amalgamated in 1914 government function in a democratic setting. 2. Explored how the three arms of government operate in Nigeria. 3. Demonstrate the effects of the unification of the northern and Pluralism Theory southern protectorate. Considering the heterogeneity nature of the country, the study uses Historical Development of the Nigerian Constitution Pluralism theory to explain or support the topic under study. The theory traditionally explained political actions in modern democratic states, it Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria were amalgamated is also primarily on the standpoint that citizens are involved in political in 1914 by the British government into one group by the 1914 grounds through diverse interest groups, it believes that political power Constitution, this constitution conferred the legislative and executive should be spread to secure the genuine welfares of the citizens and none powers of the colony to the Governor General. The colonial of these groups should dominate the system (Miller, 1983). constitutional development of Nigeria was importantly prejudiced by The first strength of this theory is that it clearly discourses and the Governor Generals selected to manage the colony. Soon after the recognizes the reality of diversity among different groups in the appointment of Sir Hugh Clifford in 1921, he canceled the 1914 political context. Therefore, the theory suggested for equal opportunity Constitution. In 1922, a new Constitution was propagated. This to all interest groups whether huge or minor to contest and partake, development was deceptive again in 1931 when Sir Donald Cameron based on their political interests. This is because the government will was chosen as Governor General and in 1945 when Sir Arthur Richards guard them to ensure that they get the same treatment at all level of was chosen as Governor. It should be renowned that each appraisal power. Secondly, the strength of pluralism theory is that it inspires gives rise to the devolution of power to the provinces of the nation and small groups to grow their strategies by upholding their political more participation in governance by Nigerians. Sir John McPherson interest. The assumption of the theory is that the government try to became Governor General in 1948 and under his leadership, the so- overcome existing problems and to mediate all conflicts between called McPherson Constitution was accepted in 1951. This interest groups or between interest groups and the government. Constitution decentralized much power to the regions, making them Consequently, the theory leads to averting a dictatorship owing to the more independent in relation to a distinct area. More so, several check and balance system (Rohman, 2013; Miller, 1983 & Self, 1985) Nigerians were voted into the regional Houses of Assembly than the chosen official members. In Addition, the federal House of LITERATURE AND CONCEPTUALIZATION Representatives was dominated by elected Nigerians. Despite this, the colonial administrative sustained a steady and strong control over law- The term amalgamation means different things to different people. making (Nwauche, 1954 & Goitom, 2017). To the metallurgist, “It is the mixture of two elements to form one A new constitutional plan was approved in 1954, which lead to unique element (Eric, 2016).” independence in 1960. Under this Constitution, the Executive Council The concept of governance is wider than that of government which and the regional Houses of Assembly became progressive and run by conservatively refers to the formal official structure and setting of the citizens